Dr. Leo Baeck Former Chief Rabbi of Berlin, Dead; Was 83

November 5, 1956

LONDON (Nov. 4)

Dr. Leo Baeck, head of the World Union for Progressive Judaism and one-time Chief Rabbi of Berlin who refused to flee Germany during the Nazi era and subsequently spent the last two years of World War II in the Theresienstadt concentration camp, died here this week-end. He was 83.

After the liberation, Dr. Baeck urged Jews to leave Germany and took his own advice. In London, where he made his home, he remained active in the work of the Council of Jews from Germany, heading it until the day of his death. Even before the Nazi ere he became world renowned as a scholar and philosopher of Judaism.

He made frequent visits to the United States including until the last few years, short stays to teach at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the American Reform rabbinical seminary.